Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) has urged Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim to seek the dissolution of the state legislative assembly amid the latest dispute between the state executive and the palace.
Amanah secretary-general Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said the party took note of Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s decision to withdraw his consent and revoke the appointments of all 10 state executive councillors.
He said the political turmoil had reached a critical stage following the decision, which came after the state executive councillors were found to have breached their oath of office.
“Amanah takes note that the political turmoil in Negri Sembilan has reached a very critical stage when the Yang di-Pertuan Besar has withdrawn his consent and revoked the appointments of all members of the Negri Sembilan state executive council who were appointed following the 16th Negri Sembilan state election for breaching their oath,” he said in a statement.
Faiz said Amanah would not interfere in matters concerning the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, which he said should be resolved according to the law, the state Constitution and Negri Sembilan customs.
Dispute over the state ruler
However, Faiz claimed that the 16th state election was triggered by pressure from certain quarters seeking to remove Tuanku Muhriz from the throne.
“This is reinforced by the proclamation signed by the menteri besar immediately after the 16th Negri Sembilan state election, on Aug 3,” he said.
Faiz said the situation was further aggravated when the menteri besar openly rejected the royal decree.
He also accused Umno of failing to respect the Malay royal institution.
“Umno has failed to respect the position of the Malay royal institution by taking steps to remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar from the throne, as though it were an act of coup d’état,” he said.
He said such actions were contrary to the wishes of the people of Negri Sembilan, adding that the state election had not been intended to interfere with the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
“Therefore, we urge the menteri besar to seek the dissolution of the Negri Sembilan state legislative assembly, as the confrontation between the executive and the palace is contrary to the spirit and principles of the Laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan 1959.
“We believe that the turmoil, which has not been properly managed by Umno, could also threaten the stability of the state government,” he said.
Palace revokes exco appointments
The development followed Tuanku Muhriz’s decision to withdraw his consent and revoke the appointments of all 10 state executive councillors with immediate effect.
The palace said the decision was made after the exco members were found to have breached their oath of office. It said they had taken and signed their oath and pledge of allegiance before the Yang di-Pertuan Besar on Aug 7, before their appointment to the State Executive Council.
Ismail was subsequently directed to submit a new list of candidates for the State Executive Council for the Yang di-Pertuan Besar’s consideration and consent.
However, Ismail said any action to dismiss or terminate the membership of a state executive councillor without the advice or request of the menteri besar was a legal error, unconstitutional and had no legal effect.
He said he had never been consulted or advised on the termination of any Negri Sembilan exco member under Article 38(5) of the Negri Sembilan Constitution 1959.
